Cycling UK Forum

That'swhat I thought. He's a shoe in for the Westminster retirement home for sure.

Saw upon being interviewed about the current political goings on alongside that former labour deputy leader whose name I forget. Possibly hattersley? Two old men with 100 years in the commons between them iirc. Not sure who was the oldest but hattersley looked happier and healthier to me. Iirc Clarke had the longest commons service.

PDQ Mobile wrote:

Oldjohnw wrote:A few years ago, breaking the convention, Farage stood against the speaker.

He was involved in a tiny plane air crash so that didn't work out too well.

It certainly could have worked out better!

People tend to forget Farage finished only third that time, also behind a local anti-tradition campaigner!

From the BBC News link on the previous page:

Such is the anger with the Speaker at senior levels of government, it has been suggested he could be blocked from getting a peerage when he retires. Ministers are furious at what they see as John Bercow's "bias" during Commons debates on Brexit....

A Cabinet source said: "It's a good job peerage nominations are in our gift....I can't imagine we would look favourably on those who've cheated centuries of procedure."

Ahem...

Hi again, Horace King, Selwyn Lloyd, Bernard Wetherall, George Thomas, Betty Boothroyd, Michael Martin, each had traits that markd them as individuals, yet didn't stop them being fair & level handed in the chair. The "Midget" Bercow has let the role of Speaker down on every level. Remember the Pugin Wallpaper, no Vimura for shortie.
So I cheer his departure. Sir Lindsay Hoyle has sat in with great distinction, so would be fine. Ken Clark? Just imagine him with the full rig & Hush Puppies! Chris Bryant could do a fair job, but I don't think he'd run for it as he is far better suited to being an excellent active member, a thorn in the Tory side. As a real outside bet maybe Jezza could go for the job, before the Shadow Chancellor sticks the blade in? TTFN MM

merseymouth wrote: no Vimura for shortie.

The "Midget" Bercow

Is it his lack of height that makes him bad at the job, do you think?
Or is this just a silly, irrelevant slur?

Poor Bercow. His father was a cabbie, he went to a comprehensive school and 'new' university. What chance did he have?

Hello again, The biggest thing about Bercow is his ego! Maybe calling his shortie is a cheap shot, but he only talks big.
He eulogises over the Traditions of the House, then completely ignore the conventions of the same establishment!
He grew too big for the role, becoming far too partial in his handling of affairs. I believe Betty Boothroyd has supportd that contention, sorry no citation, just got on with life after reading such. IGICB MM

merseymouth wrote:Maybe calling his shortie is a cheap shot,

No maybe about it.

mjr wrote:

Tangled Metal wrote:Is it a job for an mp who has never made it to cabinet level or who will never reach it again, as a way to get more pay towards the end of their career before retiring and sitting in the house of lords?

No. Also see below about sitting in the Lords.

If so harriet Harman makes a good candidate. Ex cabinet member, now out of favour with her leadership and unlikely to make you're house if lords without a decent spell in the speaker's chair.

Otherwise the deputy speaker bloke is a shoe in for the role, with experience too!

I assume you mean Sir Lindsay Hoyle as the other deputies are Dame Eleanor Laing and Dame Rosie Winterton. Former deputy Nigel Evans is also still an MP but would be a very partisan appointment because he's currently chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench Conservatives, but such a "FU democracy" move would be consistent with reports that Bercow will not enter the Lords immediately as punishment for his Brexit-related rulings.

Labour's Chris Bryant and Conservatives Sir Edward Leigh are other candidates to have declared, along with Harriet Harman. You could also look at any other members of the Panel of Chairs as possible candidates, especially those who haven't taken hard lines on Brexit.

Edward Leigh the Gammon's Gammon.

pete75 wrote:Edward Leigh the Gammon's Gammon.

Now, now, you shouldn't mock him for his appearance.
On the other hand Orwell said, “At 50, everyone has the face he deserves.”

I refrain from reproducing that horrible picture.

merseymouth wrote:I believe Betty Boothroyd has supportd that contention, sorry no citation, just got on with life after reading such.

I suspect it was after misreading such!

Tangled Metal wrote:Is it a job for an mp who has never made it to cabinet level or who will never reach it again, as a way to get more pay towards the end of their career before retiring and sitting in the house of lords?

If so harriet Harman makes a good candidate. Ex cabinet member, now out of favour with her leadership and unlikely to make you're house if lords without a decent spell in the speaker's chair.

Otherwise the deputy speaker bloke is a shoe in for the role, with experience too!

Bad choice in my opinion.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politi ... hange.html

If it is Harriet Harman then, OK, good choice.

For some Bercow is a hero and for others he is not, but whatever one thinks he has destroyed the traditional impartiality of the Speaker. It is highly likely the parameters of the Speaker's role will be changed. Sir Bernard Jenkin, who is chairman of the Constitutional Affairs Committe just intimated that the powers of the Speaker are likely to be reviewed by the committee.

That may or may not be a good thing, but Bercow's successor may find their role circumscribed compared to previous holders of the office. It seems ineffably sad to me, Bercow was a lousy choice but it's perhaps the inevitable outcome of Labour supporting a Conservative candidate they knew the Conservatives did not want.

How would you want it changed? What are the options?

Direct, public vote?
Prescribed alternation between government and main opposition party?
Legally proscribed role with limitations, checks and balances?
Free vote by MPs without any party whipping in?
PR voting with 2nd and 3rd choices applied?

Probably more ideas but those are just some of my thoughts.